High-speed container-draining apparatus

ABSTRACT

Open-ended containers with rinse water in them are carried along a drying path which includes a curved path segment, the containers being carried along that curved segment with their open ends facing radially outwardly. As a result, an outwardly directed centrifugal force expels the rinse water from the containers. Means are provided to increase the effective radius of the curved path segment, thereby to increase the effective net centrifugal force acting on the rinse water.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Jerry L. East 5 m- Cited I 21] A I No g z' gz' UNITED STATES PATENTS 0 Rickard l X meme #2332? 1113i; 2 "T435; [73] Assignee Simplimatic Engineering Co. em

Lynchburg, 2,249,659 7/1941 Kems etal 214/311 Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Oresky Attorney-James and Franklin ABSTRACT: Open-ended containers with rinse water in them [54] CONTAINER'DRAINING are carried along a drying path which includes a curved path 27 Claim 8 Drawin m 5. segment, the containers being carried along that curved segg g ment with their open ends facing radially outwardly. As a [52] [1.5. CI 2141311, result, an outwardly directed centrifugal force expels the rinse 198/ 13 l 198/162 water from the containers. Means are provided to increase the [51] Int. Cl B65b 69/00 effective radius of the curved path segment, thereby to in- [50] Field of Search 214/309, crease the effective net centrifugal force acting on the rinse water.

we n w 3 M PATENTED JUL 6 l9?! SHEET 1 OF 4 PATENIED JUL 6 l9?! 3 5 91" O2 7 sum 2 OF 4 INVENTOR uawr 4. 5/157 '29 /f ATTORNEY HIGH-SPEED CONTAINER-DRAWING APPARATUS The present invention relates to rinsing and draining apparatus, and particularly to an apparatus for draining rinse water from open-ended containers.

Open-ended containers, particularly in the form of glass bottles, are widely used as containers for beverages such as beer, soda and the like. In the past, glass containers were returned after being emptied and then reused. As a result, such containers had to be thoroughly cleaned and washed to ensure that the bottles would be sufficiently clean and safe for refilling and reselling. Such washing requires special and relatively heavy duty equipment.

However, in recent years, primarily as a result of the reduced cost of container manufacture, many of the glass containers used are nonreturnable, discarded by the consumer after use. The beverage packager using bottles of this type need no longer undertake the rigorous bottle washing procedures that were required with returnable bottles. With nonreturnable bottles, all that is required is a simple rinsing process, after which the bottle is filled. For such a simple rinsing operation comparatively simple equipment can be used. In such equipment rinse water is inserted into the bottles either prior or just after the bottles are received by a moving conveyor. After the rinse water is inserted into the bottles, the bottle is inverted to allow the rinse water to drain out from the bottles. After the bottles have completed their travel along the draining path, they are usually discharged from the rinsing apparatus. Rinse water insertion, bottle feed, drainage and bottle discharge are generally accomplished in a continuous manner.

For optimum operation of a bottle-rinsing apparatus, all or substantially all of the rinse water should be removed from the bottles by the time the bottle is discharged from the rinsing apparatus.

The amount of rinse water drained from the bottle will be primarily determined by the amount of time that the bottle is moved in its inverted position along the draining path. This in turn is determined by the length of that path and the rate at which the bottle is conveyed along that path-the faster the rate the shorter will be the draining period.

There are, however, economic and practical considerations such as available plant space and desired drying capacity which limit one or both of these factors. Lack of space shortens the drying path, and the need to process large numbers of bottles necessitates that they be moved rapidly through the apparatus. Increasing the speed at which the containers are carried through the apparatus would have an adverse effect upon the draining operation because the rinse water would have less time in which to drain. increasing the length of the draining path, while increasing the efficacy of the draining process, would also increase the cost of the apparatus and increase the plant space required for its use. As a result designers of the prior art bottle-rinsing apparatus were compelled to reach a compromise between the factors of conveyor length and drive speed to achieve the optimum results under specified limitations of cost and space. That compromise was, however, generally less than completely satisfactory with sacrifices being made of necessity with respect to either complete water drainage, speed, rinsing capacity, and/or cost of operation. Thus in known rinsing apparatus an excessive amount of residual rinse water often remains in the bottle after it has completed its movement along the drying path. That remaining rinse water eventually must be removed from the bottle before the desired contents are inserted, or else the resulting flavor and quality of the contents will be adversely affected. To effect this final rinse water removal has in the past been troublesome and time-consuming, and hence costly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container draining apparatus in which rinse water is more effectively removed from the containers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container draining apparatus in which centrifugal force acts on the rinse water in the container to positively urge it to drain from the containers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a container draining apparatus in which for a given conveyor drive velocity, means are provided to increase the effective centrifugal force active to expel rinse water from the open end of the container.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a container-draining apparatus in which the rate of rinse water drainage is increased by centrifugal force acting on the rinse water while the container is moving along a curved path, and in which that effective centrifugal force is maximized for a given velocity of the conveyor drive and a given radius of the conveyor drive wheel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a draining apparatus for use with open-ended containers in which means are provided for accurately positioning the containers on the container conveyor after rinse water has been injected into them and removing them from that conveyor after the rinse water has been removed therefrom.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide in a container-draining apparatus means for securely engaging and retaining the containers on a conveyor in a position in which the open ends of the containers face radially outwardly away from the conveyor, and means for engaging and disengaging the containers from those retaining means in a predetermined sequential operation.

To these ends, the present invention provides a containerdraining apparatus which receives open-ended containers, such as bottles, after rinse water has been injected therein. The apparatus comprises means for conveying the bottles along a draining path which includes at least one curved path segment. Means are provided to retain the bottles on the conveyor in a manner such that when they are moved along the curved path segment, their open ends are directed radially outwardly away from the conveyor. In this manner, as the bottles move along that curved path segment, a centrifugal force determined by the linear velocity of the conveyor and the ef fective radius of the curved path segment is developed, that force being active on the water within the bottles to forcibly expel the water through the radially outwardly oriented open ends of the bottles.

For a given angular velocity of the conveyor about the curved path segment the net centrifugal force acting on the rinse liquid in the container is proportional to the effective radius of the curved path. At minimum conveyor velocity, as is most desirable for system operation (to reduce the cost and complexity of the conveyor drive) it has been heretofore impractical to move the containers along a curved path with sufficient velocity to produce a centrifugal force sufficient to effectively augment the conventional gravity drainage. The present invention provides means for increasing the efi'ective radius of that curved path by supporting and conveying the containers along a path which is radially outwardly spaced from the path of movement of the conveyor drive. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, as herein described, the conveyor is carried by a drive wheel having a given radius and the container support means, which is movable along with the conveyor, extends a significant distance radially beyond the conveyor. The resultant effective radius of the curved path segment over which the centrifugal force is active, is the sum of the radius of the drive wheel plus that radial distance. The increased effective radius results in an increased effective centrifugal force acting upon the rinse water which in turn increases the rate at which the rinse water is expelled from the container during its movement about the curved path segment.

Furthermore, by making use of the centrifugal force to positively aid in the removal of the rinse water, an increased linear velocity of the conveyor aids in that water removal by increasing the net centrifugal force. By constant, in the prior art arrangement that increased speed would decrease the rate of rinse water drainage by reducing the period of water drainage.

During the movement of the container along the drainage path, the container is retained on its support by a housing having an interior chamber shaped to receive the container, and

having an opening formed in its upper wall in registry with and adapted to receive the open end of the container. Means are provided to cause relative vertical movement between the container and the housing to move the housing into and out of engagement with the upper end of the container. The retainer housing is open on one of its sides to define a passageway through which the container enters the station. That housing has a vertical wall and a horizontal slot is formed along a vertical edge of that wall. That slot is adapted to receive guide rails at different locations along the drainage path. One of those rails is effective to insert the bottle into the chamber and then another of the guide rails is effective to remove the container from the chamber after drainage is completed.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, this invention relates to the construction and manner of operation of a container-draining apparatus, as defined in the accompanying claims and as described in the specification, taken together with the accom panying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of the drainer apparatus of the present invention, illustrating the manner in which bottles are placed on and removed from the conveyor;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus as viewed along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of one container housing of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the container housing in its raised or nongrasp ing position, and the guide rails used for moving a container into and out from the housing;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 but showing the container housing in its lowered or grasping position;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the container housings of the drain apparatus of this invention.

Broadly described, the present invention provides a con tainer-draining apparatus in which rinse water is more effectively removed from an open-ended container, such as a bottle, by the action of centrifugal force on that rinse water during the movement of the container along a curved portion of its draining path.

The containers are moved along an input path where a quantity of rinse water is injected into the open end of each container (although the particular place where rinse water is injected is not critical and may be widely varied). The containers are then moved onto the upper flight of a conveyor and guided into individual container housings carried by that conveyor. As a given container and its associated housing move along the upper conveyor flight, the housing is brought into grasping engagement with the container. Thereafter the container and housing move along a curved path between the upper and lower flights of the conveyor.

As a significant feature of this invention, each container moves along that curved path with its open end facing radially outwardly, so that centrifugal force acts on the rinse water and forces the water from the container.

After passing along that curved path, the container, still grasped by the housing, moves along the lower flight of the conveyor where gravity causes the remaining rinse water to drain therefrom. The bottles then pass upwardly over a second curved path where the bottles are again oriented with their open ends directed radially outwardly from the conveyor, and centrifugal force acts to expel any residual rinse water which may remain. To increase the effective centrifugal force acting on the rinse water when the containers move along each of the specified curved paths, without increasing conveyor speed or decreasing the radius of the conveyor drive, the containers are carried on supports radially outwardly spaced from the conveyor path.

When the container, now substantially completely drained of rinse water, is moved back to the upper conveyor flight, the

housing is released from the container and the container is guided out of its housing end off the conveyor.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in the figures comprises an endless conveyor assembly generally designated 10 having an upper flight 11 and a lower flight 12. A curved path segment 13 is defined at the right of conveyor assembly 10 between the upper and lower flights, and a corresponding curved path segment 14 is defined at the other (left) end of the conveyor assembly between the lower and upper flights. A container infeed section generally designated 15 and a container removal section generally designated 16 are located on either side of upper flight II.

The containers, which may be in the form of an open-ended bottles 18, are moved individually from infeed section I5 into the interior of one of a plurality of housings 20 carried on conveyor assembly 10. Each housing comprises a top wall 22, leading and trailing end walls 24 and 26, and open sides defining entrance and exit passages 23 for the bottle. A central aperture 30 is formed in top wall 22. Housings 20 are open at their bottom and a block 32, separately carried by the conveyor, extends into that open bottom to define a base or support for the bottles when they are enclosed by walls 22-26 of the housing. Means are provided to cause relative vertical movement between the housing walls and the block 32 to cause the housing to engage the bottle carried on block 32 at predetermined periods during the travel of the bottle along the conveyor.

Four comer inserts 62, 63, 64 and 65 (FIG. 4) formed of a relatively soft, resilient grasping material such as foam rubber or the like, are secured within the upper interior corners of housing 20 and define upwardly sloping surfaces extending between the upper ends of walls 24. and 26 and the top wall 22.

It is the main purpose of this invention to remove all or substantially all of the rinse water from each bottle 18 as it moves along the path of conveyor assembly 10, so that by the time the bottle is removed from the conveyor, only an insignificant amount of the rinse water remains therein.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, conveyor assembly 10 comprises a pair of shafts 34 and 36 each of which carries two pairs of substantially equal radius sprocket wheels, an inner pair 38 and 40, and an outer pair 42 and 44. Endless inner chains 46 and 48, which pass over the peripheries of sprocket wheels 38 and 40 respectively on both shafts, are each secured to the blocks 32 as at 41 by any convenient means, and chains 50 and 52 respectively pass over sprocket wheels 42 and 44 on both shafts. In the particular embodiment herein described as seen in FIG. 2, curved path segments 13 and I4 are defined when the conveyor chains 46, 48, pass over the outer peripheries of sprocket wheels 38 and 40.

Outer chains 50, 52, have secured thereto a plurality of brackets 54 and 56 which in turn are secured to the mounting parts 57 of housings 20 by means such as rivets 59. A pair of spaced strips 61 extend between brackets 54 and 56 at their leading and trailing surfaces and the blocks 32 are slidably received between brackets 54 and 56. Chains 50, 52, each pass over cam rails 58 located along each side of the upper flight I I of the conveyor assembly 10.

At the location on upper flight 11 at which bottles 18 are inserted into their respective housing 20, chains 50 and 52 carrying brackets 54 and 56, and thus housing 20, engage an elevated portion of cam rail 58 so that housing 20 is moved to a raised position with respect to block 32 and bottle 18 carried thereby, that position being shown in FIG. 5. In that position of housing 20, inserts 62-65 are above the sloping upper part of the bottle 38 and aperture 30 is above, and in substantial registry with, the open end of the bottle.

lnfeed section I5 comprises an infeed conveyor 66 onto which a plurality of open-ended bottles are placed. Conveyor 66 moves the bottles toward the left in FIG. I to a rotating infeed worm 68 which engages, spaces and then guides bottles 18 between a pair of infeed arcuate guide rails 70 and 72, the latter serving to place individual bottles in the spaces between the teeth of an infeed star wheel 74 fast on a rotating shaft 76.

Rotation of star wheel 74, m the direction of the arrow 78. causes the bottles to move towards upper flight 11 with their open ends directed upwards. Guide rail 72 extends into passage 28 of each housing as it moves along upper flight l1 and places a bottle into each of housings 20. To permit guide rail 72 to enter housing 20, sidewalls 24 and 26 are respectively provided with horizontal slots 80 and 82 at the level of that guide rail. As the housing 20 moves toward the right in FIG. 1, the end of rail 78 is received first in slot 80 and then in slot 82 and thus does not impede the movement of housing 20.

Bottle 18 is thus positioned within the interior of housing 20 and is carried on the upper surface of block 32. The open end of bottle 18 is below and in registry with aperture 30 in the top wall 22 of the housing.

At some time (usually while the bottles are being fed by star wheel 74, although the particular time is not at all critical) rinse water is injected through the open end of each bottle and may, in a typical instance, fill approximately one-quarter of the volume of the bottle.

The moving conveyor chains carry the bottle supporting housings 20 and blocks 32 in unison towards the right in FIG. 2, until the outer chains 50 and 52 carrying housings 20 engage a downward sloping part of rail 58 at 84, at which time housing 20 is caused to move gradually downwardly with respect to the block 32 to its position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in which the surfaces of inserts 62-65 firmly engage and grasp bottle 18, and the open end of the bottle passes through aperture 30.

Further movement toward the right of the housing and bottle assembly in their grasped condition causes the bottle 18 to reach the end of upper flight 11 and then to swing downwardly around the curved path segment 13, the bottle being securely retained on its support block 32 by ineans of the engagement therewith of the inserts 62- 65 of the housing 20 in which it is inserted.

As the bottle moves along that curved pat h withits open end passing through aperture 30 and pointing radially outwardly from the conveyor path, a centrifugal force is developed on the bottle and the rinse water therein. If that force is of sufficient magnitude, it will be effective to expel some or all of the rinse water from the bottle.

It will be recalled that bottles 18 are each supported on the upper surface of one of the blocks 32 so that the effective radius of arc swing at the base of the bottle is substantially equal to the radius of the sprocket wheels 38-44, i.e. the effective conveyor radius about the curved path, plus the radial dimension or height of block 32. As will be apparent from the following analysis for conveyor operation both with and without the provision of blocks 32, this net increase in the effective radius along which the bottle moves along the curved path provides an increase in the centrifugal force active on the rinse water, without requiring an increase of the velocity of the'conveyor.

w rotational velocity of the sprocket wheels;

R radius of the sprocket wheels,

R radius of the are at the base of bottle 18 (i.e. the effective sum of R and the height of block 32);

V linear velocity of the conveyor chain WR,;

V linear velocity of the base of bottle 18 wR PC, centrifugal force active on bottle 18 if it were carried at a radius R FC, centrifugal force on bottle 18 when supported on block 32 at radius R and W weight of water Similarly:

Comparing Eqs. 1 and 2 we obtain;

FC XFC Thus, from Eq. 3, for a given value of w, the angular or rotational velocity of the conveyor sprockets, the net centrifugal force active on the rinse water in the presence of the support block 32 is greater than that force in the absence of that block by a factor equal to the ratio of the respective radii through which the base of the bottle swings for each of these conditions. Since R the radius of arc swing when the bottle is supported on block 32, is greater than R by an amount substantially equal to the height of that block, an increased centrifugal force is developed (i.e. FC, FC,), on the rinse water in the bottle without increasing the conveyor velocity. This is significant for the reason that minimum chain velocity is desirable for conveyor rinsers, the mechanism is simpler and gravity drain is maximized for a given size of apparatus and without the blocks 32 it would be difficult, if not downright impractical, to move the bottles along the curved path at velocities sufficient to establish a centrifugal force operative for the purposes described.

This augmented centrifugal rinse water-removing force obtained by increasing the net radius of the curved path along which the bottle is moved may also be seen from the following:

From Eq. 1, if V is the critical velocity at which a sufficient centrifugal force CF is developed for water removal; that is,

For R =5 inches And R =10 inches=0.833 ft.

For R V /32X0.833=5.1ft./sec.=306ft./min. However, since Thus, with the block 32 the conveyor chain must only move at 153 ft./min. to achieve the necessary centrifugal force, but without the block 32 a much higher (e.g. double) velocity of the conveyor would be required.

After the bottle along with its housing moves beyond the first curved path segment 13, it is then conveyed in an inverted position with its open end facing downward along the lower flight 12 of the conveyor. The bottle at this time is still engaged by the surfaces of inserts 6265 of housing 20 and is thereby retained against its associated supporting block 32. As the bottle continues along lower flight 12, a portion of the remaining rinse water (if any) remaining in the bottle is gravity-drained therefrom. Still engaged by the interior surfaces of housing 20, the bottle is then moved upwards along the second curved path segment 14 with its open end once again pointed radially outwardly from the conveyor path. Any remaining rinse water within the container is again subjected to a centrifugal force which is effective to remove all or substantially all the rinse water which may still remain within the bottle.

After passing over curved path segment 14 the bottle and housing assembly is again received on the upper flight 11 of the conveyor at which time chains 50 and 52 engage the upwardly sloping part of cam rails 58, and as the housing and container move further toward the right, housing 20 is caused to be raised relative to the block 32 and bottle 18 as at 86, thereby to disengage the inserts 62-65 of housing 20 from the bottle and to lift the top wall 22 beyond the top of the bottle.

Shortly after this disengagement of the bottle and the housing, bottle R8 is engaged by a first outfeed guide rail 38 extending longitudinally along one side of the upper flight of the conveyor and into the interior of housing 20 through slots 80 and 82. Rail 88 engages and urges the now released bottle 18 to the left of the conveyor (as viewed in FIG. 3) until the bottle is received between an outfeed arcuate guide rail 90 and a pair of vertically spaced, arcuate outfeed guide rails 92 and 9a.

To permit guide rails 92 and 94 to enter into the interior of housing 20 and receive the bottle after the bottle moves past the end of rail 83, vertically spaced, horizontal slots 96 and 98 are formed in wall 24 of housing 20, and slots 1% and 102 are formed at corresponding levels in wall 26. To insure for continuity of bottle guidance by the rail 88 and rails 92, 94, slots 96l02 overlap slots 80 and 82, slots 96 and 100 extending below (to receive rail 9%), and slots 98 and 102 extending above slots 80 and 82 (to receive rail 92) (FIG. 8).

The now substantially completely drained bottle is moved between guide rails 90, 92 and 9d onto an outfeed table 1104 fast on a rotating shaft M6, at which time beverage may be injected thereinto, or the bottle may be removed therefrom, and transported to a filling station for that purpose.

A bottle draining apparatus has been disclosed in which the rate of rinse water drainage is increased by directing the open ends of these containers in a manner such that centrifugal force is active on the rinse water in those containers when the containers travel along a curved path segment of the conveyor. That centrifugal force is effective to expel a major amount of the rinse water from the containers.

By supporting the base of the container at a location spaced radially outwardly from the path of the conveyor, the net centrifugal force active on the rinse water is increased without the need for increasing the velocity of the conveyor drive, or decreasing the radius of the sprocket wheel. In this manner, a sufficiently large centrifugal force for water removal is developed while operating the conveyor at practical and economical operating speeds.

By the utilization of centrifugal assist to the conventional gravity drainage, the degree of rinse water removal is markedly increased as compared to bottle rinsers heretofore employed. (In the latter, when centrifugal force was developed, it served to inhibit rinse water drainage.) Conveyors of shorter length can thus be used with the rinser of the present without significantly decreasing the efficacy of the draining operation. As a result, the required plant space for this operation is reduced and installation and operating costs are significantly decreased, all while achieving a more efficient and more complete drainage of the rinse water from the containers.

While only a single embodiment of this invention has been herein specifically disclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers so that their bottoms move along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means operatively connected to said conveying means and effective to mount said container on said conveying means in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, means for moving said conveying means along a second curved path segment radially inwardly spaced from the first named curved path segment along which the bottoms of said containers move by a given distance at least equal to approximately the radius of said second curved path segment, said container mounting means being carried by said conveying means and comprising container-engaging means completely located in an appreciably radially outwardly spaced position relative to said conveying means and effective to hold said containers in a position such that the bottoms of said containers are appreciably spaced radially outwardly from said second curved path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said conveying means comprises an upper and a lower flight connected by said curved path segment, means to position an undrained container on said upper flight, and means to remove said container from said conveying means after it has traversed said curved path segment between said flights.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said conveying means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container support surfaces radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said conveying means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container supports radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom, and means for causing relative vertical movement between said containerengaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths, thereby to cause said elements to engage with and disengage from said containers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said conveying means comprises an upper and a lower flight connected by said curved path segment, means to position an undrained container on the upper flight of said conveying means, therea.fter to cause it to be engaged by said retaining means, thereafter causing it to traverse a curved path segment between said flights, and thereafter disengaging said container from said retaining means and removing said container from said conveying means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, in which said conveying means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container supports radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, in which said conveying means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container supports radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom, and means for causing relative vertical movement between said containerengaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths, thereby to cause said elements to engage with and disengage from said containers.

8. The a paats'sre as 1 iii which aid conveying means" comprises first conveyor chain means movable over a first endless path and having container support surfaces radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises second conveyor chain means movable over a-second endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom, the second endless path being variably radially spaced from said first path over a portion of sad paths, thereby to cause relative radial motion between said support surfaces and said retaining means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said conveying means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container supports radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container engaging elements extending radially out therefrom and means for causing relative vertical movement between said container-engaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths, thereby to cause said ele' ments to engage with and disengage from said containers.

10. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, means for moving said conveying means along a second curved path segment radially inwardly spaced from the first named curved path segment along which said containers move, said containers being carried by said conveying means in a position spaced radially outwardly from said second curved path, said transporting means comprising a drive wheel of a given radius,

said conveying means being carried by said wheel, said second curved path segment being defined by the path of movement of said conveying means about said drive wheel, and container support means on which said containers are supported, said support means extending radially outwardly beyond said conveying means by a given distance, thereby to define said firstnamed curved path segment, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said chamber having a height greater than that of said container, said container engaging upper part normally being out of contact with said container, and means active between said member and said container conveying means for causing relative vertical movement between them, thereby to move said upper part into and out of engagement with said container top.

11 The apparatus of claim 10, in which said member comprises ahousing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.

12. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in' which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, means for moving said conveying means along a second curved path segment radially inwardly spaced from the firstnamed curved path segment along which said containers move, said containers being carried by said conveying means in a position spaced radially outwardly from said second curved path, said transporting means comprising a drive wheel of a given radius, said conveying means being carried by said wheel, said second curved path segment being defined by the path of movement of said conveying means about said drive wheel, and container support means on which said containers are supported, said support means extending radially outwardly beyond said conveying means by a given distance, thereby to define said firstnamed curved path segment, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said member comprising a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.

13. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, means for moving said conveying means along a second curved path segment radially inwardly spaced from the first-named curved path segment along which said containers move, said containers being carried by said conveying means in a position spaced radially outwardly from said second curved path, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said members having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said chamber having a height greater than that of said container, said container-engaging upper part normally being out of contact with said container, and means active between said member and said container conveying means for causing relative vertical movement between them, thereby to move said upper part into and out of engagement with said container top.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which said member comprises a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.

15. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, means for moving said conveying means along a second curved path segment radially inwardly spaced from the first-named curved path segment along which said containers move, said containers being carried by said conveying means in a position spaced radially outwardly from said second curved path, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture'adapted to register with said container open end, said member comprising a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to llll said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.

116. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, said conveying means comprising conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container supports radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain mans, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying containerengaging elements extending radially out therefrom and means for causing relative vertical movement between said container-engaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths, thereby to cause said elements to engage with and disengage from said containers.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, in which said conveying means comprises an upper and a lower flight connected by said curved path segment, means to position an undrained container on said upper flight, and means to remove said container from said conveying means after it has traversed said curved path segment between said flights.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, in which said conveying means comprises an upper and a lower flight connected by said curved path segment, means to position an undrained container on the upper flight of said conveying means, thereafter to cause it to be engaged by said retaining means, thereafter causing it to traverse a curved path segment between said flights, and thereafter disengaging said container from said retaining means and removing said container from said conveying means.

19. In the apparatus of claim ll, a drive wheel of a given radius, said conveying means being carried by said wheel, said second curved path segment being defined by the path of movement of said conveying means about said drive wheel, said container-engaging means comprising container support means on which said containers are supported, that portion of said support means supportingly engaged by said containers being located radially outwardly beyond said conveying means by said given distance, thereby to define said first-named curved path segment.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, in which said retaining means comprises a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, and in which said chamber has a height greater than that of said container, said container-engaging upper part normally being out of contact with said container, and means active between said member and said container conveying means for causing relative vertical movement between them, thereby to move said upper part into and out of engagement with said container top.

211. The apparatus of claim 19, in which said retaining means comprises a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, and in which said member comprises a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.

22. The apparatus of claim 11, in which said retaining means comprises a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, and in which said chamber has a height greater than that of said container, said container engaging upper part normally being out of contact with said container, and means active between said member and said container conveying means for causing relative vertical movement between them, thereby to move said upper part into and out of engagement with said container top.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said retaining means comprises a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, and in which said member comprises a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.

24. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said chamber having a height greater than that of said container, said container-engaging upper part normally being out of contact with said container, and means active between said member and said container conveying means for causing relative vertical movement between them, thereby to move said upper part into and out of engagement with said container top.

25. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said member comprising a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.

26. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having tron of said paths, thereby to cause relative radial motion between said support surfaces and said retaining means 27 In the apparatus of claim 26. means for causing relative vertical movement between said container engaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths, thereby to cause said elements to en gage with and disengage from said containers. an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said ap paratus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, said conveying means comprising first conveyor chain means movable over a first endless path and having container support surfaces UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 591 ,0 7 Dated July 6, 1971 Inventor(s) JERRY L EAST It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claims 26 and 27 should read as shown on the attached sheet.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer FORM po'wso USCOMM-DC 60376-P89 U 5 GOVERNMENT PR'NTING OFFICE 1969 0-366-334.

Patent No. 3 591,027 Dated July 6 1971 Inventor) JERRY L. EAST PAGE 2 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

26. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, said conveying means comprising first conveyor chain means movable over a first endless path and having container support surfaces appreciably radially outwardly positioned relative to said first chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises second conveyor chain means movable over a second endless path and carrying container engaging elements extending radially out therefrom, the second endless path being variably radially spaced from said first path over a portion of said paths, thereby to cause relative radial motion between said support surfaces and said retaining means.

27. In the apparatus of Claim 26, means for causing relative vertical movement between said container engaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths,

thereby to cause said elements to engage with and disengage from said containers. .J

FORM P0-105Q USCOMM-DC 60876-P69 fi LI 5' GOVERNMENT PRINYING OFFICE 1 I9, 33!4. 

1. An apparatus for draining containerS of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers so that their bottoms move along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means operatively connected to said conveying means and effective to mount said container on said conveying means in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, means for moving said conveying means along a second curved path segment radially inwardly spaced from the first named curved path segment along which the bottoms of said containers move by a given distance at least equal to approximately the radius of said second curved path segment, said container mounting means being carried by said conveying means and comprising container-engaging means completely located in an appreciably radially outwardly spaced position relative to said conveying means and effective to hold said containers in a position such that the bottoms of said containers are appreciably spaced radially outwardly from said second curved path.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said conveying means comprises an upper and a lower flight connected by said curved path segment, means to position an undrained container on said upper flight, and means to remove said container from said conveying means after it has traversed said curved path segment between said flights.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said conveying means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container support surfaces radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said conveying means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container supports radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom, and means for causing relative vertical movement between said container-engaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths, thereby to cause said elements to engage with and disengage from said containers.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said conveying means comprises an upper and a lower flight connected by said curved path segment, means to position an undrained container on the upper flight of said conveying means, thereafter to cause it to be engaged by said retaining means, thereafter causing it to traverse a curved path segment between said flights, and thereafter disengaging said container from said retaining means and removing said container from said conveying means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, in which said conveying means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container supports radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, in which said conveying means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container supports radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom, and means for causing relative vertical movement between said container-engaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths, thereby to cause said elements to engage with and disengage from said containers.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said conveying means comprises first conveyor chain means movable over a first endless path and having container support surfaces radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises second conveyor chain means movable over a second endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom, the second endless path being variably radially spaced from said first path over a portion of said paths, thereby to cause relative radial motion between said support surfaces and said retaining means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said conveying means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container supports radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container engaging elements extending radially out therefrom and means for causing relative vertical movement between said container-engaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths, thereby to cause said elements to engage with and disengage from said containers.
 10. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, means for moving said conveying means along a second curved path segment radially inwardly spaced from the first named curved path segment along which said containers move, said containers being carried by said conveying means in a position spaced radially outwardly from said second curved path, said transporting means comprising a drive wheel of a given radius, said conveying means being carried by said wheel, said second curved path segment being defined by the path of movement of said conveying means about said drive wheel, and container support means on which said containers are supported, said support means extending radially outwardly beyond said conveying means by a given distance, thereby to define said first-named curved path segment, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said chamber having a height greater than that of said container, said container engaging upper part normally being out of contact with said container, and means active between said member and said container conveying means for causing relative vertical movement between them, thereby to move said upper part into and out of engagement with said container top.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, in which said member comprises a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to saiD guide rail.
 12. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, means for moving said conveying means along a second curved path segment radially inwardly spaced from the first-named curved path segment along which said containers move, said containers being carried by said conveying means in a position spaced radially outwardly from said second curved path, said transporting means comprising a drive wheel of a given radius, said conveying means being carried by said wheel, said second curved path segment being defined by the path of movement of said conveying means about said drive wheel, and container support means on which said containers are supported, said support means extending radially outwardly beyond said conveying means by a given distance, thereby to define said first-named curved path segment, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said member comprising a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.
 13. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, means for moving said conveying means along a second curved path segment radially inwardly spaced from the first-named curved path segment along which said containers move, said containers being carried by said conveying means in a position spaced radially outwardly from said second curved path, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said members having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said chamber having a height greater than that of said container, said container-engaging upper part normally being out of contact with said container, and means active between said member and said container conveying means for causing relative vertical movement between them, thereby to move said upper part into and out of engagement with said container top.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which said member comprises a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relAtive to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.
 15. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, means for moving said conveying means along a second curved path segment radially inwardly spaced from the first-named curved path segment along which said containers move, said containers being carried by said conveying means in a position spaced radially outwardly from said second curved path, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said member comprising a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.
 16. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, said conveying means comprising conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and having container supports radially outwardly positioned relative to said chain mans, and in which said container retaining means comprises conveyor chain means movable over an endless path and carrying container-engaging elements extending radially out therefrom and means for causing relative vertical movement between said container-engaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths, thereby to cause said elements to engage with and disengage from said containers.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, in which said conveying means comprises an upper and a lower flight connected by said curved path segment, means to position an undrained container on said upper flight, and means to remove said container from said conveying means after it has traversed said curved path segment between said flights.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16, in which said conveying means comprises an upper and a lower flight connected by said curved path segment, means to position an undrained container on the upper flight of said conveying means, thereafter to cause it to be engaged by said retaining means, thereafter causing it to traverse a curved path segment between said flights, and thereafter disengaging said container from said retaining means and removing said container from said conveying means.
 19. In the apparatus of claim 1, a drive wheel of a given radius, said conveyinG means being carried by said wheel, said second curved path segment being defined by the path of movement of said conveying means about said drive wheel, said container-engaging means comprising container support means on which said containers are supported, that portion of said support means supportingly engaged by said containers being located radially outwardly beyond said conveying means by said given distance, thereby to define said first-named curved path segment.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, in which said retaining means comprises a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, and in which said chamber has a height greater than that of said container, said container-engaging upper part normally being out of contact with said container, and means active between said member and said container conveying means for causing relative vertical movement between them, thereby to move said upper part into and out of engagement with said container top.
 21. The apparatus of claim 19, in which said retaining means comprises a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, and in which said member comprises a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.
 22. The apparatus of claim 11, in which said retaining means comprises a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, and in which said chamber has a height greater than that of said container, said container engaging upper part normally being out of contact with said container, and means active between said member and said container conveying means for causing relative vertical movement between them, thereby to move said upper part into and out of engagement with said container top.
 23. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said retaining means comprises a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, and in which said member comprises a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.
 24. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the contaIners, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said chamber having a height greater than that of said container, said container-engaging upper part normally being out of contact with said container, and means active between said member and said container conveying means for causing relative vertical movement between them, thereby to move said upper part into and out of engagement with said container top.
 25. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, said retaining means comprising a member having an interior chamber adapted to receive a container and having an upper part in said chamber adapted to engage the top of said container, said member having an aperture adapted to register with said container open end, said member comprising a housing open on a side to define a container passage, said housing comprising a vertical wall having a slot extending substantially horizontally in from a vertical edge thereof alongside said container passage, and means for moving a container relative to said housing comprising a guide rail mounted externally of said chamber shaped to engage a container and to move along said slot as said chamber moves relative to said guide rail.
 26. An apparatus for draining containers of the type having an open end into which rinse water has been inserted, said apparatus comprising container conveying means effective to transport said containers along a drying path having at least one curved path segment, and means effective to retain said container in a position in which its open end is facing radially outwardly when the container is moving along said curved path segment, thereby to provide an outward centrifugal force on the rinse water within the containers as the latter move along said curved path, said force being effective to expel rinse water through the open ends of the containers, said conveying means comprising first conveyor chain means movable over a first endless path and having container support surfaces appreciably radially outwardly positioned relative to said first chain means, and in which said container retaining means comprises second conveyor chain means movable over a second endless path and carrying container engaging elements extending radially out therefrom, the second endless path being variably radially spaced from said first path over a portion of said paths, thereby to cause relative radial motion between said support surfaces and said retaining means.
 27. In the apparatus of claim 26, means for causing relative vertical movement between said container engaging elements and said container supports at predetermined locations along their respective paths, thereby to cause said elements to engage with and disengage from said containers. 